Tribe’s Kluber strikes out 11 for 19th victory

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

Corey Kluber isn’t letting up as the regular season winds down.

Kluber struck out 11 in eight innings to record his career-high 19th win as the Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Tuesday night.

Although the Indians have locked up their third straight AL Central title, Kluber’s goal is simple: Go into the postseason pitching as well as possible.

“I don’t want to go out there and think like it’s spring training because we’ve already clinched,” he said. “The best way to stay locked in is to keep your foot on the gas, so to speak, and stay in that competitive mind frame.”

Kluber (19-7), who allowed three runs, topped 200 strikeouts for the fifth straight season. Kluber won 18 games in three of the previous four seasons, including his two AL Cy Young Award-winning years, 2014 and 2017.

“Vintage Kluber,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “He kept it low in the zone, and kept driving it lower and lower. He stays below the zone, so you have to make adjustments.”

Omar Narvaez walked and Matt Davidson singled with two outs in the eighth, but Kluber retired Ryan LaMarre on a groundout.

In his previous start on Sept. 10, Kluber lasted only 1 2/3 innings and allowed four runs against Tampa Bay. His turn in the rotation was moved back a day to line him up to start Game 1 of the Division Series, which begins Oct. 5.

“Obviously, I had a pretty short outing last time, so I was able to get a pretty long side (session) in a couple days after that,” Kluber said. “It actually worked out fine timing-wise to where I was able to get two in.”

Indians All-Star second baseman Jose Ramirez was hit on the left arm by Carlos Rodon’s pitch in the fifth inning and walked from the plate in obvious pain. Ramirez spoke with manager Terry Francona and a team trainer, but stayed in the game and stole second base moments later.

“Fortunately it got him above the elbow, but it got him pretty good,” Francona said.